SMSL DL100 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[capslock]

No.

Given a low enough signal amplitude, the DAC will go into Low gain and boost the digital input signal to compensate.

This is totally seamless and invisible to end users, though does result in artificially inflated DR numbers.

No.

Given a low enough signal amplitude, the DAC will go into Low gain and boost the digital input signal to compensate.

This is totally seamless and invisible to end users, though does result in artificially inflated DR numbers.

How quickly does it switch, e.g. after a few seconds of a softer signal? And is it really seamless/glitchless during the switch?

 

[Bleib]

DL200 is $167.19 on the same site.

SMSL DL200 AUDIO DAC & Headphone Amplifier MQA-CD ES9039Q2M

In stock, orders placed before the 14th can be shipped out. SMSL DL200 AUDIO DAC features MQA-CD ES9039Q2M, Bluetooth APTX HD, OPA1612 XU-316, and DSD512 compatibility, plus 6.35mm & 4.4mm headphone outputs and a handy remote control. Support MQA decoding, support MQA-CD; ESS new generation...

hifi-express.com

MANDYCODE might cut of additional 5 USD from the price

 

[EJ3]

Yeah don't get the hype for all the balanced things, do people really have that much interference at home? Personally I don't think I've ever been limited by my RCA cables.
Tbh I find these XLR equipped things limiting since they might be good and interesting overall but might not be compatible with "normal" hifi, for example I'm interested in getting the 3E TPA3255 amp board but then I need to swap out my MiniDSP 2x4HD as well since it doesn't have balanced outputs.

If there was that much interference at my home, I would move, as I would be VERY concerned about what it was doing to my BODY & BRAIN (cancer or some other thing that I don't want).
I have never had an external interference problem with RCA jacks no matter where I have lived (even with a the Turntable RCA leads going to a phono preamp and from the phono preamp 12 feet to the line in of a main preamp).

I used to run a sound board for local & regional rock bands as a second job, Of course, with 50 & 100 foot runs in places with sometimes wonky electrical issues, there was a need for XLR's.

Maybe it's my philosophy of "don't use more than you need to get the job done properly".
Which also means that if there where an actual advantage to it (in my applications), I would be using it.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Yeah don't get the hype for all the balanced things, do people really have that much interference at home? Personally I don't think I've ever been limited by my RCA cables.
Tbh I find these XLR equipped things limiting since they might be good and interesting overall but might not be compatible with "normal" hifi, for example I'm interested in getting the 3E TPA3255 amp board but then I need to swap out my MiniDSP 2x4HD as well since it doesn't have balanced outputs.

I use XLR with my active monitor and I guess I am not the only one, even if it not "normal hifi". Have a nice day.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

Is it safe for one presume that DL200 performs pretty much identically to DL100 when it comes to hp-amp capabilities and the snr+distortion of line-outputs?

 

[JIW]

Is it safe for one presume that DL200 performs pretty much identically to DL100 when it comes to hp-amp capabilities and the snr+distortion of line-outputs?

Line out is like D-6S. HPA is similar to DL100 but with low and high gain - 0 dB and 11 dB relative to 2.5 V.

 

[mc.god]

Is it safe for one presume that DL200 performs pretty much identically to DL100 when it comes to hp-amp capabilities and the snr+distortion of line-outputs?

Per own SMSL measurements, line out of DL200 gives even slightly better sinad and HP out will be better if you use very sensitive headphones due to the low gain mode (absent on DL100).

 

[Robbo99999]

As stated before, if DL100 doesn't have a low gain mode then it doesn't seem very competitive for iem users.

That's the only negative in my eyes.

 

[mc.god]

That's the only negative in my eyes.

Agree, but not a small one in my point of view.

 

[Robbo99999]

Agree, but not a small one in my point of view.

Maybe a complete no go for IEM users......not sure how much volume range they'd have on the volume knob, very little I suppose!

 

[Sal1950]

I have never had an external interference problem with RCA jacks no matter where I have lived (even with a the Turntable RCA leads going to a phono preamp and from the phono preamp 12 feet to the line in of a main preamp).

Under normal circumstances I'd agree with you. I'd only like to give far warning to stay away from unshielded braided style cables like the Kimber PBJ's. Back in the day I was drinking the koolaid from the audiophool media, I bought into the big fad there was over these "entry level" cables, that is until the minute I introduced them between my preamp and tube amps, big induced hummmm field. I never could use them at all in my rig so they got thrown into the junk stuff box.
The good news is 25 years later I decided to throw them on an ebay auction and sold them for over twice what I'd pay'd.

 

[EJ3]

I use XLR with my active monitor and I guess I am not the only one, even if it not "normal hifi". Have a nice day.

If it is there, why not? But I certainly would not plan to have it, as it doesn't (usually) make an audible difference.

Under normal circumstances I'd agree with you. I'd only like to give far warning to stay away from unshielded braided style cables like the Kimber PBJ's. Back in the day I was drinking the koolaid from the audiophool media, I bought into the big fad there was over these "entry level" cables, that is until the minute I introduced them between my preamp and tube amps, big induced hummmm field. I never could use them at all in my rig so they got thrown into the junk stuff box.
The good news is 25 years later I decided to throw them on an ebay auction and sold them for over twice what I'd pay'd.
View attachment 388526

I always kind of wondered about the "Super" cable thing. But, back in the late 70's, a friend who owned a higher end stereo shop told me that "we keep a few different brands of "high end" cable because there is a demand for it. And it is very profitable. Get decent cables with decent quality connectors and don't think that you are missing anything sound wise. Maybe in looks but if there is a change in sound, it's not something that was their to begin with, meaning the cables are the problem, not the solution".

 

[EJ3]

Under normal circumstances I'd agree with you. I'd only like to give far warning to stay away from unshielded braided style cables like the Kimber PBJ's. Back in the day I was drinking the koolaid from the audiophool media, I bought into the big fad there was over these "entry level" cables, that is until the minute I introduced them between my preamp and tube amps, big induced hummmm field. I never could use them at all in my rig so they got thrown into the junk stuff box.
The good news is 25 years later I decided to throw them on an ebay auction and sold them for over twice what I'd pay'd.
View attachment 388526

Yeah, I remember when "If it came from Kimber, it must be great" was the mantra. I never used any of Kimber's products. I used some monster cable stuff, not because that was what I wanted to use but because it was what the store I went to had & I needed some speaker wire.

 

[Limopard]

Under normal circumstances I'd agree with you. I'd only like to give far warning to stay away from unshielded braided style cables like the Kimber PBJ's. Back in the day I was drinking the koolaid from the audiophool media, I bought into the big fad there was over these "entry level" cables, that is until the minute I introduced them between my preamp and tube amps, big induced hummmm field. I never could use them at all in my rig so they got thrown into the junk stuff box.
The good news is 25 years later I decided to throw them on an ebay auction and sold them for over twice what I'd pay'd.
View attachment 388526

Got a pair of this one too. Bought the cable by the meter and soldered some decent plugs on it. Was a bit cheaper but still overpriced. You live, you learn.

 

[pseudoid]

Which also means that if there where an actual advantage to it (in my applications), I would be using it.

I get what you are saying but... imo, all things being equal [?] and both XLRs and RCAs were available for use, for nil up-pricing, would you not opt for the XLRs?

I am building a whole new mini-system, which will be mostly balanced/XLRs but... not because I have any noise problems; past/present/future.
For consumer applications, the use of XLRs maybe considered as the proverbial lipstick-on-the-pig; but lipstick lives on, to this day and for some reason.
That some reason is an emotional uplift, that naturally will make my system sound sexy, beautiful and possibly a few dB louder!

 

[EJ3]

I get what you are saying but... imo, all things being equal [?] and both XLRs and RCAs were available for use, for nil up-pricing, would you not opt for the XLRs?

I am building a whole new mini-system, which will be mostly balanced/XLRs but... not because I have any noise problems; past/present/future.
For consumer applications, the use of XLRs maybe considered as the proverbial lipstick-on-the-pig; but lipstick lives on, to this day and for some reason.
That some reason is an emotional uplift, that naturally will make my system sound sexy, beautiful and possibly a few dB louder!

Like I said, I would not dismiss a piece of gear for having it (&, if it had it and I bought it, I would likely use it [although that would likely mean some adapters or another piece of gear that also has it]), so probably not due to the extra work & money involved.

 

[stefanovesa]

Hello,
It should be interesting to know if a Blu Ray player (e.g Sony UBP-X1100ES) could be connected to the HDMI port and decoding Hi res audio, DSD included, but I doubt.

Stefano

 

[JeremyFife]

First thought was that SINAD wasn't above 120dB ... then I slapped myself!

Another very good, very cheap piece of kit. HDMI(Arc) gets it into soundbar-killing territory with active speakers, lovely

 

[Limopard]

Ok, pulled the trigger. Want to have a proper 1/4 inch jack again. The DX 3 pro+ moves to my computer corner, the K 5 pro will be sold.

 

[staticV3]

It should be interesting to know if a Blu Ray player (e.g Sony UBP-X1100ES) could be connected to the HDMI port and decoding Hi res audio, DSD included, but I doubt.

Definitely not.

The HDMI input can only be connected to HDMI ARC outputs, like those on a modern TV or AVR.